Conveying & accumulation

Ermanco, Inc: Low-profile conveyor

Ermanco’s (Spring Lake, MI) low-profile Powerol® conveyor uses a tri-directional switch to move any piece straight ahead, to the left or to the right on command at speeds to 20 products/min.

June 30, 2000

Machinery: Page 963

Controls & Machine Components

Eastman Chemical Company: Eastman Chemical Company: Amenities/sampler bottles

TricorBraun’s (St. Louis, MO) line of amenities/sampler bottles are extrusion blown of Eastman Chemical’s (Kingsport, TN) PETG. The line includes 2 round bottles and 1 oval 1-oz bottle.

June 30, 2000

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Innovative blister package

Appropriate for pharmaceuticals, OTC drugs and nutrition supplements, Dosepak™ contains 3 main design elements: an outer carton, a fold-over inner blister card, and a senior-friendly, yet child-resistant, locking feature.

June 30, 2000

Bag/pouch fill/seal (pre-made bags)

Hayssen, Inc A Division of Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc: Vf/f/s system

The Ultima® ST vf/f/s bagger from Hayssen (Duncan, SC) measures bag lengths faster than conventional machines, says the company, allowing more time for the filling and sealing stages.

June 30, 2000

Converting equipment

Appointments, promotions

Alvey Systems, Inc. (St. Louis, MO): Douglas M. Westerman, dir., Central Region; Bruce Bleikamp, account mgr., Major Account Development; Steven Cohron, account mgr., Major Account Development; Hank Kirk, account mgr., Major Account Development.

June 30, 2000

Labels

Soft drink crystals

Kraft Foods, Glenview, IL, has developed a new powdered soft drink called Health Quenchers. With additional ingredients meant to enhance a healthful lifestyle, Health Quenchers drink crystals hit retail shelves in April in a package designed by Lipson Alport Glass & Associates, (Northbrook, IL).

June 30, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Meat nutrition labels

Plugging a hole in the government’s mandatory nutrition labeling, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture announced it would seek such labeling on all fresh meat and poultry.

June 30, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

UVA risk questioned

Sunscreen labels give little indication of the amount of protection from harmful UVA rays.

June 30, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Rules for GM foods

The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) along with other food groups filed formal petitions with the Food Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission to establish clear guidelines for the voluntary use of genetically modified designations such as “GM-free,” “Non-GM,” and others on product labels or in advertising.

June 30, 2000

Converting equipment

ANSI/PMMI safety standard released

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute has announced that the revised and updated American National Standard Institute/PMMI B155.1, American National Standard for Packaging Machinery and Packaging-Related Converting Machinery, Safety Requirements for Construction, Care and Use, is now available.

June 30, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

OMAC Group to meet at Pack Expo

The OMAC Motion for Packaging Working Group will meet at Pack Expo Intl. 2000 in Chicago on Nov. 8 from 1 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. For details, phone the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute at 703/243-8555.

June 30, 2000

Converting equipment

Fruit basket in relief adorns PET bottle

A polyethylene terephthalate bottle with a uniquely sculpted fruit-basket image on its shoulder is now reaching supermarkets in 17 eastern states. The 64-oz, heat-set, hot-fill, grip bottle, supplied by Graham Packaging (York, PA), contains 100% juice products from Apple & Eve.

June 30, 2000

Secondary Packaging

Tetley tea now in a Soft Pack

Tetley GB of Greenford, Middlesex, England, has introduced innovative flexible packaging that replaces paperboard cartons for tea bags in 40- 80-, 160- and 240-count sizes.

June 30, 2000